1
: a sovereign male ruler of a continental European duchy
2
: a nobleman of the highest hereditary rank
especially
: a member of the highest grade of the British peerage
Examples of duke in a Sentence
Noun
Put up your dukes and fight, you coward!
Recent Examples on the Web
Alex Ritman, Variety, 26 Mar. 2026
McGregor, on the other hand, had viewers in the palm of his hand as Christian, the penniless writer who falls in love with Satine despite her commitment to a truly vile duke, who has invested in the Moulin Rouge and promised to make Satine’s dreams of stage stardom come true.
—Mekishana Pierre, Entertainment Weekly, 16 Mar. 2026
Shania Russell, Entertainment Weekly, 16 Mar. 2026
The March 17 election includes primary races for Illinois’ secretary of state, attorney general and treasurer — and while all those positions are held by incumbent Democrats who are running for new terms with no primary challengers, Republicans are duking it out in one of the contests.
—Chicago Tribune, 15 Mar. 2026
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Noun
The classic follows Prospero, an exiled duke who conjures a storm to exact revenge on those who wronged him, only to confront the possibility of forgiveness — while his daughter Miranda discovers love for the first time.
—Alex Ritman, Variety, 26 Mar. 2026
McGregor, on the other hand, had viewers in the palm of his hand as Christian, the penniless writer who falls in love with Satine despite her commitment to a truly vile duke, who has invested in the Moulin Rouge and promised to make Satine’s dreams of stage stardom come true.
—Mekishana Pierre, Entertainment Weekly, 16 Mar. 2026
Verb
In an epic showdown, One Battle After Another and Sinners duked it out and both won big at the 2026 Oscars.
—Shania Russell, Entertainment Weekly, 16 Mar. 2026
The March 17 election includes primary races for Illinois’ secretary of state, attorney general and treasurer — and while all those positions are held by incumbent Democrats who are running for new terms with no primary challengers, Republicans are duking it out in one of the contests.
—Chicago Tribune, 15 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for duke
Cite this Entry
“Duke.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/duke. Accessed 30 Mar. 2026.
Copy CitationBiographical Definition
Duke
biographical name
ˈdük 
ˈdyük
Benjamin Newton 1855–1929 and his brother James Buchanan 1856–1925 American tobacco industrialists
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